02/09/2026
They can move it, so it can’t be broken”… right? 👀
Well, not necessarily.
One of the biggest misconceptions we hear after an injury is that being able to move the injured area or even put some weight through it means there can’t be a fracture.
Unfortunately, fractures and sprains don’t always make it that easy!
Both can cause pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness and difficulty using the injured area. Some fractures still allow surprisingly good movement, while a significant ligament sprain can be extremely painful and swollen.
But that doesn’t mean it’s a reason for a trip to the emergency room either… a potential fracture or broken bone could mean HOURS waiting to be seen taking up the time of medical staff who need to see seriously ill patients.
Physiotherapists are experts in acute injury management and are able to make a diagnosis of a sprain or a fracture considering how the injury happened, exactly where the pain is, movement, function, swelling, tenderness and other clinical findings to help determine whether a fracture may be present and whether imaging is appropriate.
… and if there is a fracture or break, you can be immobilised quickly and efficiently so you can back on with your day.
So next time someone goes down at sport and you hear “It’s okay — they can move it!”… remember that’s only one small piece of the puzzle. 😉
📌 Save this post for the next weekend sporting mishap.
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